Hair extension foundation cap system

ABSTRACT

A foundation cap system for attaching hair extensions, the foundation cap system including an elastomeric cap defining an outside surface and an opening into an inner chamber defined by an inside surface of the elastomeric cap; and at least one flat sewing strand extending along the outside surface to define a plurality of generally parallel strand portions over at least a portion of the outer surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hair extensions. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a cap system which defines a foundation forsewing or weaving hair extensions to the wearer's head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A hair weave is human or artificial hair, i.e. hair extension, utilizedfor the integration with one's natural hair. Weaves can alter one'sappearance for long or short periods of time by adding further hair toone's natural hair or by covering the natural hair all together withhuman or synthetic hairpieces. Weaving additional human or syntheticpieces can enhance one's hair by giving it volume, length and addingcolor without the damage of chemicals or adopting a different hairtexture than that of their own.

With weave or sew-in hair extensions, the wearer's natural hair istypically braided in “tracks” and wefts of hair are woven (with thread)onto the braids. The tracks are usually cornrows, braided in thedirection of how the hair will fall. Toward the face or away, with orwithout a part, the tracks build the foundation of how the end resultwill look. The wefts are then sewn onto the braids, usually with aspecially made, blunt-ended needle.

The process of braiding the hair to form the tracks is time consumingand often is expensive. Additionally, prolonged braiding of the user'shair may have negative effects which may be exacerbated when the hair isbraided at a high level of tension. Furthermore, the weight ofextensions can put additional stress on the roots. As such, it may benecessary to avoid areas along the hairline or the back of the neck,where hair is the most fragile.

It is further noted that some potential users do not have sufficienthair density to form the tracks, for example, a person with naturallythin hair or a person that has lost their hair, either naturally or as aresult of, for example, chemotherapy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a foundationcap system for attaching hair extensions, the foundation cap systemincluding an elastomeric cap defining an outside surface and an openinginto an inner chamber defined by an inside surface of the elastomericcap; and at least one flat sewing strand extending along the outsidesurface to define a plurality of generally parallel strand portions overat least a portion of the outer surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitutepart of this specification, illustrate the presently preferredembodiments of the invention, and, together with the general descriptiongiven above and the detailed description given below, serve to explainthe features of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a foundation cap system inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the foundation cap system of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the foundation cap system of FIG. 1turned inside out.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing an alternative connectionelement associated with the foundation cap system.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing another alternativeconnection element associated with the foundation cap system.

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a foundation cap system inaccordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the foundation cap system of FIG.6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the foundation cap system of FIG. 6turned inside out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings, like numerals indicate like elements throughout.Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to betaken as a limitation on the present invention. The following describespreferred embodiments of the present invention. However, it should beunderstood, based on this disclosure, that the invention is not limitedby the preferred embodiments described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary embodiment of a foundation capsystem 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention will bedescribed. The cap system 10 includes a cap 12 having a generallyhemispherical shape with an outside surface 16 and an opening 14 into aninternal chamber defined by the inside surface 18 of the mesh net 12.While the cap 12 is described as generally hemispherical in shape, it isrecognized that the shape may be more or less than half of a sphericalshape. Additionally, the shape does not have to be exactly spherical,but may have variations, for example, flatter sides such that the widthbetween the sides is less than the distance between the front F and backB. The specific shape may be adjusted based on the shape of the intendeduser's head. It is further noted that the cap 12 is made of anelastomeric material such that the cap 12 is stretchable both side toside and from front F to back B. In the illustrated embodiments, the cap12 is made from an elastomeric mesh net, however, other materials may beutilized.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, an elastomeric band 20 extends along theinside surface 18 along the opening 14. The elasticity of the elasticband 20 is selected such that it is it made be stretched about theuser's head and return toward its original shape such that it provides asufficient tension to retain the cap 12 on the user's head. Additionalconnection elements may be included to further assist in maintaining thecap on the user's head.

In the embodiment of the cap system 10′ illustrated in FIG. 4, aplurality of circumferentially spaced-apart contact ribs 22 are attachedto the elastic band 20 and serve as the additional connection elements.The contact ribs 22 are less elastic than the elastic band 20 and areconfigured to be biased into engagement with the user's head by theelastic band 20. The contact ribs 22 may be semi-rigid and manufacturedfrom polyurethane, rubber or the like. Additionally, the contact ribs 22may be in the form of double-sided tape which is another alternativeconnection element. Since the elastic band 20 extends in between thecontact ribs 22, the band 20 still has the ability to stretch over theuser's head.

In the embodiment of the cap system 10″ illustrated in FIG. 5, theadditional connection elements are defined by one or more combs 24 whichare attached to the inside surface 18 of the cap 12, preferably at thefront F and back B of the cap 12 although they may otherwise bepositioned. FIG. 5 shows the front comb 24 with a plurality of bristles26 configured to engage the user's hair and assist in maintaining thecap 12 on the user's head. While the back comb is not illustrated, itgenerally has the same configuration and function as the front comb 24.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, a flat sewing strand 30 extends alongthe outer surface 16 of the cap 12. By flat, it is meant that the sewingstrand 30 has a width, generally parallel to the surface of the meshnet, which is larger than a thickness, generally perpendicular to thesurface of the mesh net, of the sewing strand 30. The sewing strand 30preferably has a braided configuration including a plurality of naturalor synthetic strands braided with one another. In the illustratedembodiment, the sewing strand 30 extends continuously from a first end32 along one side of the cap 12 to a second end (not shown) along theopposite side of the cap 12. The sewing strand 30 extends in aback-and-forth configuration such that a series of generally parallelstrand portions 34 extend from front F to back B of the cap 12 (as shownin FIGS. 1 and 2) or the generally parallel strand portions 35 mayextend from side-to-side of the cap (as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). Withthe continuous nature of the strand 30, return portions 36 extendbetween adjacent strand portions 34. While the sewing strand 30 isillustrated as a continuous strand, it is possible that the strandportions 34 may be defined by two or more separate elements rather thana continuous strand. The sewing strand 30 may be stitched, glued, bondedor otherwise secured to the outer surface 16 of the cap 12.

The sewing strand 30 provides a sewing or weaving foundation for hairextensions. A user may simply position the cap system 10 on their headand begin the sewing process. Such eliminates the time and expense ofbraiding the user's own hair and also the potential disadvantages ofcontinuously keeping their hair in braids. Additionally, the tensionapplied by the hair extensions is not applied to the user's roots, butinstead is applied to the cap 12 and thereby more evenly distributed tothe user's entire head through engagement of the elastic band 20.

Referring to FIGS. 6-8, a cap system 10′″ in accordance with anotherembodiment of the invention will be described. The cap system 10′″ issimilar to the previous embodiment and includes an elastomeric cap 12having an outside surface 16 and an inside surface 18 with an opening14. The cap system 10′″ includes a sewing strand 30, however, in thepresent embodiment the first end 32 of the sewing strand 30 is securedalong the front F of the cap 12 and the second end (not shown) issecured along the back B of the cap 12. The sewing strand 30 extends ina side-to-side configuration with U-shaped portions 35 extending fromside-to-side of the cap 12. Again, return portions 36 join adjacentU-shaped portions 35. To allow the wearer the option to cut a smallopening in the cap and pull some of their own hair through to blend withthe extensions, a piece of lace fabric 28 or the like, with lowerelasticity than the cap 12, is secured to either the outer surface 16 orinner surface 18 or both surfaces 16, 18 of the cap 12. In all otheraspects, the cap system 10′″ is the same as the previously describedembodiment. Additionally, the cap system 10′″ may include additionalconnection elements as described above.

These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from the foregoing specification. Accordingly,it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that changes ormodifications may be made to the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the broad inventive concepts of the invention. It shouldtherefore be understood that this invention is not limited to theparticular embodiments described herein, but is intended to include allchanges and modifications that are within the scope and spirit of theinvention as defined in the claims.

1. A foundation cap system for attaching hair extensions, the foundationcap system comprising: an elastomeric cap defining an outside surfaceand an opening into an inner chamber defined by an inside surface of theelastomeric cap; and at least one flat sewing strand extending along theoutside surface to define a plurality of generally parallel strandportions over at least a portion of the outer surface, wherein the atleast one flat sewing strand includes a plurality of braided strands. 2.The foundation cap system according to claim 1 wherein the braidedstrands are braided in a cornrow configuration.
 3. The foundation capsystem according to claim 1 wherein the elastomeric cap is stretchablebetween adjacent strand portions.
 4. The foundation cap system accordingto claim 1 wherein the strand portions extend from a front of the cap toa rear of the cap.
 5. The foundation cap system according to claim 1wherein the strand portions extend from a first side of the cap to asecond, opposite side of the cap.
 6. The foundation cap system accordingto claim 1 wherein a piece of fabric having an elasticity less than thatof the elastomeric cap is secured along the inner and/or outer surfaceof the elastomeric cap adjacent an end of the at least one flat sewingstrand.
 7. The foundation cap system according to claim 1 wherein thestrand portions are defined by a single, continuous flat sewing strand.8. The foundation cap system according to claim 1 wherein an elasticband extends along the inner surface about the opening.
 9. Thefoundation cap system according to claim 8 wherein at least oneadditional connection element is secured adjacent the elastic band. 10.The foundation cap system according to claim 9 wherein the at least oneadditional connection element includes a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced-apart contact ribs positioned along the elastic band.
 11. Thefoundation cap system according to claim 10 wherein the contact ribs aresemi-rigid.
 12. The foundation cap system according to claim 9 whereinthe at least one additional connection element includes at least onecomb secured to the inside surface of the cap.
 13. The foundation capsystem according to claim 12 wherein a first comb is secured along afront of the cap and a second comb is secured along a back of the cap.